He said: "One is to ensure that those so-called asylum-seekers who are really economic migrants, people who aren't fleeing abuse or problems in their country but are really just coming here for employment and to improve their lives should be returned to their country of origin as soon as possible.

"The government need to get better at returning people to their country of origin, because they're not very good at it and people end up hanging around and just staying around when they shouldn't be here.

"The second thing where people are genuinely seeking asylum then they should be dispersed to other towns and cities across the United Kingdom, not disproportionately to places like Rochdale.

"So, for example, there are no asylum seekers in the Prime Minister's constituency and there is only one in the Home Secretary's constituency. Why not put more of them there?"

In 2013 there were 23,584 applications for asylum in the UK.

But Judith Dennis, from the Refugee Council charity, warned: "It's important to remember that Britain's asylum system saves lives and ensures that vulnerable people are not returned to what could be their deaths."